The Rewards of Obedience

It happened when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent word to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Now let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.” So Naaman came with his horses and his chariots and stood at the doorway of the house of Elisha. Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean.” But Naaman was furious and went away and said, “Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.’ Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. Then his servants came near and spoke to him and said, “My father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean.
2 Kings 5:8-14

It was the hardest thing she had ever done. Damp palms and a tension headache told the story. Obedience should be easy, but it wasn’t. She betrayed her employer’s trust without thinking. Now God was pressing her to go to him and tell the truth.

Even in our failures, God rewards obedience. We may suffer the consequences of sin, but obedience brings restoration. The next time temptation approaches, recall the rewards of obedience and respond accordingly.

There are three primary reasons why we should obey God. The first is because of who God is -the sovereign of the universe. The second reason is because of His love toward us. God only requires us to do what He knows is best for us. The third reason is because of our love and devotion to Him.

God has never required us to do something He is not willing to do Himself. Obedience is always the doorway to God’s richest blessings. Jesus stepped away from heaven’s glory to obey the Father’s will. His obedience was motivated by love. Had He refused, we would have never known the way of salvation.

Anytime God calls you into obedience, you can be sure that He has a grander plan in store for your life.

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” John 15:7